Happy Monday! We just wrapped-up our second shoot for Gal Meets Glam Collection yesterday after five days down in Savannah. It was absolutely beautiful, both the weather and the spring filled scenery. We got a real taste of warm weather this past week with temps over 80 degrees (which was perfect for shooting all of our spring dresses) and now I’m craving more of it! We’re heading back to Charleston today before my family starts trickling in throughout the week and I can’t wait to see them. Hopefully this cheerful sunshine sticks around so we can spend next weekend outdoors, too.

I’ve been getting a few pieces here and there for spring, but mostly some new tops (I love this one I recently got) and skirts because I know when it comes to dresses, I’ll just want to wear GMG all the time come April! I do love Faithfull The Brand and their easy, relaxed pieces that are ideal for warm weather locations. Back when we lived in San Francisco, they were one of my favorite brands for resort wear when we were heading on a tropical trip, but now that we live somewhere that feels like one of those warm-weather vacations, I can wear there pieces much more often. This yellow gingham top and skirt combo comes in a lightweight linen, one of my favorite fabrics for spring and summer.

When it comes to spring accessories, I’ve been using many of the same wicker, straw and rattan pieces I fell in love with last year. They’re great for adding a bit of texture to any look, plus the natural colors are easy to pair with everything. I did recently add this Steven Alan bag to my ever growing collection along with these oversized tortoise sunglasses.

]]>http://galmeetsglam.com/2018/03/if-you-love-gingham/feed/29137701Happy Monday! We just wrapped-up our second shoot for Gal Meets Glam Collection yesterday after five days down in Savannah. It was absolutely beautiful, both the weather and the spring filled scenery. We got a real taste of warm weather this past week with…
]]>A Spring Inspired Table Just In Time For Easterhttp://galmeetsglam.com/2018/03/a-spring-inspired-table-just-in-time-for-easter/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=a-spring-inspired-table-just-in-time-for-easter
http://galmeetsglam.com/2018/03/a-spring-inspired-table-just-in-time-for-easter/#commentsThu, 15 Mar 2018 07:00:19 +0000http://galmeetsglam.com/?p=137141

One of our favorite parts about living in Charleston is how much time we spend outdoors. We got lucky with our rental house that has a small courtyard (and a beautiful shared garden) where we set up a small bistro table and chairs, settee and Thomas’s Big Green Egg. The weather has been so beautiful lately, we’ve been out there in the morning with our coffee or in the evening grilling dinner. Our plants are all starting to come back to life with the change of season and it just makes me so happy and want to spend all my time outdoors. We have our family coming into town next week to celebrate my little sister’s Recognition Day at The Citadel, so we’re looking forward to showing my grandparent’s around Charleston and our new home for the first time. It feels like we’ve barely been home to enjoy a proper dinner at a table with a place setting, so we pulled out some old favorites from last spring and bought a few new ones (that I featured in our Easter table newsletter recently) to create a lively look for our family.

Last year I bought this blue gingham tablecloth from Pottery Barn along with matching blue plates (that are in storage with most of our kitchen stuff). I dusted it off and brought it back out to put on our small bistro tables- I can’t wait to use it a whole lot more once we’re back in our house in a few weeks. I saw these smaller salad plates in the same gingham pattern but in a sunshine yellow and loved them paired with my scalloped blue and white Aerin x William Sonoma plates I also got last spring (I love her whole collection for WS). These blue floral etched glasses from Terrain are another purchase from last year. They’ve since come out in pink, green and clear- they’re my absolute favorite because they’re so sweet.

]]>http://galmeetsglam.com/2018/03/a-spring-inspired-table-just-in-time-for-easter/feed/35137141One of our favorite parts about living in Charleston is how much time we spend outdoors. We got lucky with our rental house that has a small courtyard (and a beautiful shared garden) where we set up a small bistro table and chairs, settee and Thomas’s…
]]>Spring Transitional Pieceshttp://galmeetsglam.com/2018/03/spring-transitional-pieces/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=spring-transitional-pieces
http://galmeetsglam.com/2018/03/spring-transitional-pieces/#commentsWed, 14 Mar 2018 07:00:47 +0000http://galmeetsglam.com/?p=136545

The first day of Spring is right around the corner (next week on March 20th – I always remember the date because it’s my little sister’s birthday). This time of year can be sort of awkward for dressing. We definitely have it easy in Charleston with warm weather starting in ...

The first day of Spring is right around the corner (next week on March 20th – I always remember the date because it’s my little sister’s birthday). This time of year can be sort of awkward for dressing. We definitely have it easy in Charleston with warm weather starting in February, but we still have days popping up that feel closer to winter than spring. We’re in that in-between phase where we want to wear all the warm weather things, but mother nature has other plans for us. Even though I’ve packed away most of my winter clothes, I’ve kept a few transitional pieces out that are perfect for those in-between months.

One of my most worn items in the winter to spring months are my thin cashmere sweaters. They’re great for layering under thicker sweaters when it’s really cold out, but also make for great lighter layers when it starts to warm up. I love Shopbop’s brand Bop Basics and ended up buying this cashmere hoodie (that’s now on sale) in both the camel and ivory colors. I love slipping it on in the morning when I head out on my walk to get coffee. It pairs under everything from a down Patagonia jacket to a beautiful wool coat. They also have a simpler v-neck version that’s also now on sale.

]]>http://galmeetsglam.com/2018/03/spring-transitional-pieces/feed/46136545The first day of Spring is right around the corner (next week on March 20th – I always remember the date because it’s my little sister’s birthday). This time of year can be sort of awkward for dressing. We definitely have it easy in Charleston with warm…
]]>The Benefits Of Early Morning Flights & How To Survive Themhttp://galmeetsglam.com/2018/03/benefits-early-morning-flights-survive/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=benefits-early-morning-flights-survive
http://galmeetsglam.com/2018/03/benefits-early-morning-flights-survive/#commentsTue, 13 Mar 2018 07:00:38 +0000http://galmeetsglam.com/?p=136476

Howdy! It’s Thomas again, back for another Travel Tuesday series addition. As you know, Julia and I spend a considerable amount of time traveling by plane. Which makes it especially important to us to optimize our time at our final destination. The best way we’ve found to do this is by strategically ...

Howdy! It’s Thomas again, back for another Travel Tuesday series addition. As you know, Julia and I spend a considerable amount of time traveling by plane. Which makes it especially important to us to optimize our time at our final destination. The best way we’ve found to do this is by strategically selecting our flight time. More often than not we are on either the first or last flight of the day. For outbound, 6am or 7am flights are our favorite, and for coming home, flights after 8pm work best. To some, just the thought of a 6am flight makes them cringe. But hear me out when I say the benefits definitely outweigh the slight inconvenience of having to get up early. Here are some tips you can follow to make these early morning departure times work for you. See you on the next 6am flight!

Reason #1- Sleep Extra Nights In Your Own Bed – Our desire to travel hasn’t changed much over the years, but the older we get the more we cherish being home and sleeping in our own bed. For the budget minded,the extra nights in your own bed means less nights that you’ll have to pay for a hotel room.

Reason #2- Have More Time To Spend Exploring Your New Destination – Flights in the middle of day annoy me because they break-up the day making it very difficult to have enough time to get anything done before or after your flight. A reasonable arrival time after an early morning flight leaves time to unpack, rest, and explore.

Reason #3- Quieter, Less Stressful, Easier Going Travel Experience – Airplane travel can bring out the worst in people. Even I get antsy when worrying about boarding. One thing I’ve noticed about early morning flights is that people are tired from getting up early, so they are a little less on edge, quieter, and tend to just sleep on the plane, which makes the whole process a whole lot easier. Airports are generally less busy as well, making it easier to get around.

Reason #4 Lower Risk Of Delays – Early morning flights are known for being on time much more often because they aren’t delayed by late flights coming in. That means more connections made on time. When returning on the last flight of the day, you may experience a delay, but that shouldn’t prevent you from getting home, as long as the flight isn’t cancelled.

Reason #5- Generally Less Expensive – I’ve noticed that the first flight of the day is almost always the cheapest option. It’s a matter of supply and demand. Additionally, for those that have membership status with airlines, you’re more likely to get upgraded to a higher class.

Extra Tips To Maximize Your Flight

Have I convinced you yet? If you’re already setting your alarm clock, here are my top tips to make an early morning flight go off without a hitch:

Tip #1- Pack The Night Before – A lot of planning takes place leading up to a flight. No matter how much you decide to procrastinate packing, I’d highly advise that you pack everything the night before. It’s happened before where time slips away and it’s 9pm the night before a trip and we haven’t even packed. It would be easy to decide to head off to bed and wake up extra early to do the packing first thing, but this typically backfires. I’ve forgotten enough pairs of underwear and other trip essentials to have learned this lesson the hard way.

Tip #2- Setup Your Alarm Somewhere That Forces You To Physically Get Out Of Bed To Turn It Off – Waking up at 3 or 4 am is not easy and many times your body can run on autopilot that early in the morning. We’ve turned off enough alarms and rolled back to sleep because our bodies resisted the change in our routine. The only trick I’ve found to help is to set-up my alarm on a table at the other end of the room. It forces me to stand on my feet, walk over and turn it off, making it less likely that I’ll fall back asleep.

Tip #3- Get The Most Accurate Drive Time Estimate – Especially when you take a later flight, you may run the risk of hitting rush hour traffic. I’ll use Waze or Google Maps and their “Arrive By” feature to figure out the absolute latest we should leave. What’s very helpful is having Waze notify you when it’s time to leave.

Tip #4- Bring Your Own Entertainment – This is a tip for all flights in general. Since Netflix has added the ability to download to a device, it’s been so helpful. I bring our iPad on every trip and it comes in handy when our flights don’t have seat back entertainment. If you are going to download from Netflix to your device, just make sure you renew any downloads that have expired before each flight.

Tip #5- Skip The Caffeine – You woke up at 3 or 4 am and while it’s tempting to want a caffeine kickstart, try skipping it at the airport so that you can catch some ZZZs once you board the plane. When I decide to skip my morning cup before a 6am flight, I fall asleep as soon as we get in the air.

Tip #6- Communicate With Your Hotel In Advance- With these flight, you’ll typically be arriving to your hotel well before check-in or departing beyond check-out. While the hotel doesn’t always have to accommodate you, there’s no harm in trying to ask, and you’re more likely to get a positive response if you ask in advance. I like to call the hotel to notify them of our arrival to try to get us in a room quicker. Of course, you could always get the American Express Platinum card, which gives you access to Fine Hotels & Resorts which has 4pm late checkout guaranteed and noon check in, when available- a perk that we used often.

Last spring I bought my first pair of overalls since middle school. I’d given up on trying to find ones that flattered and fit me, but gave this Madewell pair a go and ended up loving them (even though Thomas pokes fun at me every time I wear them). I pulled them back out last week for the first time since last summer and was reminded just how great they are. I ended up wearing them twice, once with a knit sweater on a cooler day and then again with this lavender cotton blouse.

The reason why I love this pair so much is because they’re more fitted than most styles, hugging to the body like a great pair of skinny jeans vs. being really baggy like most pairs. They’ve got a good stretch to them and are slightly cropped, so they hit at just the right spot. They also came out with this short style this season that I’ve been eyeing to add as the weather keeps getting warmer.

I got so many dms from readers after I posted these on IG stories last week asking what I typically style them with. Looking back, I think I’ve worn mine the most with either a simple striped tee or a ruffled cotton top like this, this or this. But you can pair just about any top with them! Trying a crisp white button down, an off the shoulder top, a light sweater, or something with a great sleeve like this, this or this. And when it comes to shoes, I wear mine with everything from flats, loafers, sneakers, espadrilles and sandals.

]]>http://galmeetsglam.com/2018/03/bringing-back-out-my-favorite-overalls/feed/57136250Last spring I bought my first pair of overalls since middle school. I’d given up on trying to find ones that flattered and fit me, but gave this Madewell pair a go and ended up loving them (even though Thomas pokes fun at me every time I wear them). I pulled…
]]>The Sunday Series Vol. 15http://galmeetsglam.com/2018/03/sunday-series-vol-15/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=sunday-series-vol-15
http://galmeetsglam.com/2018/03/sunday-series-vol-15/#commentsSun, 11 Mar 2018 08:00:41 +0000http://galmeetsglam.com/?p=135994

We’re back again this Sunday with a fresh list of favorites to kickstart Monday tomorrow. While we started last week in NYC, we ended it back home and in the office, prepping for our next GMG Collection shoot that’s happening next week! The days are flying by and we’re now only ...

We’re back again this Sunday with a fresh list of favorites to kickstart Monday tomorrow. While we started last week in NYC, we ended it back home and in the office, prepping for our next GMG Collection shoot that’s happening next week! The days are flying by and we’re now only a week away from the first official day of spring. So much to look forward to, but in the meantime here’s a look back on our team’s favorites from this past week…

Julia –Last week I shared some of my favorite Instagram accounts to follow on my IG stories, with one of those people being Kiana Underwood from Tulipina. Kiana is an incredibly talented floral designer that I’ve been following for a few years now. Her talent goes far beyond creating pretty floral arrangements though, she takes it to a whole new level with scenes like this, this and this. I’m particularly drawn to her work not only for her abundant use of color, but the way she makes all of her arrangements look so effortless and free. Kiana just launched her first book, Color Me Floral, which I just posted about on my Instagram. I’ve loved flowers since I was a little girl, but aside from putting together arrangements based around the flowers I’m familiar with and like, I don’t know much else. That’s one of the reasons why I love her book so much, she breaks down her process into step by step instructions to teach the reader how to create something similar. She also shares what flowers she uses for each season, along with color palettes to be inspired by. I spent some time yesterday going through it and I wanted to head to our local flower wholesaler stat! I highly recommend picking up the book if you’re looking to learn more about floral design (it also makes for a beautiful coffee table book).

Thomas – When we were in LA for Julia’s speaking engagement at Create & Cultivate we attended a dinner the night before for all of the speakers. We sat with some old blogging friends and it was great to catch up. One of those was Lauryn Evarts that runs the blog, The Skinny Confidential. You may know that in addition to her blogging she also has a weekly podcast that she hosts with her husband, Michael Bosstick. I hadn’t yet listened to their podcast but had heard good things. Naturally, we started talking about our favorite podcasts and the business of podcasting. Out of curiosity I downloaded one of their episodes before our flight from LA to NYC and the rest is history. Since then we’ve been listening to episode after episode in the car and I couldn’t recommend it enough. So why should you add this to your list of podcasts to listen to?

Michael and Lauryn consistently book incredible guests and I’m sure that’s by no accident. I imagine they spend a lot of time and effort planning and booking their interviews. The work doesn’t end there, even the guests with the most impressive resumes might not lead to the best interview, that’s why the interviewer matters. They are very well prepared for each episode, having studied up on the guest and their businesses. Even the best prepared set of questions isn’t enough, Lauryn and Michael are smart, quick and well read (Michael’s suggested business book reading list puts mine to shame) so they can easily adjust the interview. They dive deeper on a particular topic that’s engaging or change topics to keep the pace going. Being someone that runs a business with my wife, I also appreciate the partnership that they have together, both on air and with building their business. Have a listen and let us know what you think!

Laura – I recently discovered a new brand that actually is all about no brand names. Brandless is a company that sells food and household products at a low cost of $3 for everythingon their site. Their mission is all about complete transparency to cut out the BrandTax and markups of popular national brands you find in your standard big name store without cutting down on the quality. When you set up an account your BrandTax will be calculated on your page for you to see your total savings on a quarterly basis. On the site you can find products that are Certified Organic, Non GMO, Gluten Free, and much more. There are even vitamins and supplements available for $3 per bottle, which you probably already know vitamins can typically be very expensive! A few items I’ve tried and loved thus far: Thai Peanut Sauce, Organic Fruit Tea (the blueberry green tea is the best if your blueberry obsession is anywhere equivalent to mine), and this body scrub (left my skin feeling incredibly smooth). For free shipping anytime you can sign up for a membership for $36/year, which is such a great deal, and you will consistently be filling your pantry with all the essentials inexpensively whenever you need it! Have you tried anything from Brandless before? If so, let me know your favorites so I can add them to my cart in my next order!

Margaret – I’ve always been drawn to the romantic, whimsical, and ethereal in styling and design. When I come across artists, creative directors, and stylists who capture this aesthetic, I quickly jot their name down or save their work. Often this sort of styling comes down to the choice in material. Frou Frou Chic is a source for the material that makes the magic come to life. Handmade silk ribbons in a variety of textures such as crinkle, chiffon, and gauze are dyed in beautiful, subtle tones. From ribbons to crinkle table runners and bouquet collections, these silk bundles lead to endless styling opportunities and set a curated arrangement apart. Frou Frou Chic is co-owned by Ginny Au, who’s work I adore. If you’re looking for ways to enhance your wedding bouquet, invitation suite, or styled shoot, look no further.

]]>http://galmeetsglam.com/2018/03/sunday-series-vol-15/feed/24135994We’re back again this Sunday with a fresh list of favorites to kickstart Monday tomorrow. While we started last week in NYC, we ended it back home and in the office, prepping for our next GMG Collection shoot that’s happening next week! The days are…
]]>Inspired By: Jamie Beckhttp://galmeetsglam.com/2018/03/inspired-by-jamie-beck/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=inspired-by-jamie-beck
http://galmeetsglam.com/2018/03/inspired-by-jamie-beck/#commentsFri, 09 Mar 2018 08:00:31 +0000http://galmeetsglam.com/?p=135533

Today we’re launching a new series, Inspired By, here on GMG. It’s one that I’ve been very excited to share with you. Nothing fuels my fire more than discovering someone who is not only talented, but also marches to the beat of their own drum. I’ve always been inspired by people who ...

Today we’re launching a new series, Inspired By, here on GMG. It’s one that I’ve been very excited to share with you. Nothing fuels my fire more than discovering someone who is not only talented, but also marches to the beat of their own drum. I’ve always been inspired by people who are doing unique things and the confidence that comes with owning who they are, regardless if it’s completely different than myself. The wonderful thing about the internet and social media is the connection it brings through this discovery. I love finding new people to follow, which is what lead me to want to create this series, Inspired By. My hope is that this will be a way for you to discover the creatives that continue to wow and inspire me, and keep that momentum of positivity and encouragement going.

When we thought up the idea for the series, the first person that came to mind was Jamie Beck. Jamie is a photographer extraordinaire that’s extremely versatile in her craft – her images feel more like art than photos. If I could describe her work in one word, it would be emotional. I also admire Jamie because she is doing something that I think every person, especially creatives, wishes they could do. Last year, she decided to leave the hustle and bustle of New York City life to move to Provence to slow down and focus on herself and her craft. It has worked wonders for her creativity. Some days she doesn’t even need to leave her house to create masterpieces. Jamie is an Instagram expert (@annstreetstudio) – not only do the final images reflect the precision she dedicates to them, but she’s also masterful with her use of Instagram Stories. Some days she’ll make a moody short film and other days she will take you behind the scenes of how she captures her imagery, something especially entertaining for other photographers to watch. I believe, she can do anything that she sets her mind to, so I’m honored that she took the time to be our first guest on this new series. We hope you enjoy!

How did you decide on the name Ann Street Studio?

When my partner and I started our creative studio, our first space was in lower Manhattan on a tiny little street called Ann Street. We thought it would be a nice way to always remember where we started. Of course, we had no idea that many years ago I would end up living in the South of France which is part of what makes life exciting, the never-ending evolution of change and discovery. Since, we have shifted our entire business structure and creative focus. I’m actually considering changing my public profiles to just my name as I look forward to new, more personal creative goals.

After going to school for photography, did you have an idea of the type of work you wanted to focus on?

I always wanted to work in fashion. I was always interested in the commercial aspect of imaging. I think shooting for other people, shooting products for other people, was an easier aspiration than trying to figure out what I had to say toward life. I needed to live and learn and travel and try things for years after college to get where I am at now, where I do feel like I have something to say about our human experience.

How have your career goals changed over time?

I am someone who gets bored with repetition. I am always growing and evolving and it’s very important for me to set new goals each year. I love challenges, I love having to figure something new out. When I first started I was very focused on fashion and commercial photography and as I wanted something different in my day to day life, so I did in my work as well, which comes with redefining a whole new set of goals.

Take us back 5 years – what were you doing?

Working like a crazy person! My creative partner and I had just invented Cinemagraphs, a living photograph, a year earlier which completely changed our lives and careers. We had all this amazing global press, inquiries, new clients, new opportunities, new management, and if we were awake we were working building Ann Street Studio. It was a really exciting time. I was seeing all my dreams come true! But it was also too much to sustain, too much focus on money, making clients happy at the sacrifice to of our own physical and mental heath. I remember, for two years I never once cooked at home, which is insane to me now living in France, as I cook almost every single meal and it brings me so much joy. I think being disconnected for so long from basic human life is part of what led me to Provence. I wanted to be grounded again.

Did you ever imagine yourself to be where you are right now?

I was actually on a flight from Europe to the states and I had a panic attack (I thought there was going to be a terrorist attack on my flight) and the first thought that popped in my head was, “great, now you’ll never know what it’s like to live in France.” and I realized, if that is what I thought, I should probably go and do that.I made a promise to myself if I didn’t die I would move to France and a month later I had my visa. I had always imagined myself in Paris but I knew Paris would just be another version of my life in New York. Similar people, similar work, similar parties… I was searching for another purpose in life, a new experience, and there was something about this area of Provence that captivated me on previous visits, a weird feeling of belonging I couldn’t shake, so I just went with it. So no, I didn’t imagine myself living in a tiny town in the South of France but now, I can’t imagine being anywhere else.

So you left Manhattan to move to Provence for a year. How did you settle on Provence of all locations in the world?

I had visited this specific region of Provence a couple times before on client trips and something about it just haunts you with her patina of natural beauty. I wanted to quiet all the noise of Manhattan and escape to these memories of Provence’s simple life with a dream of being free to just create art with my camera.

What’s next for you? A new city? Back to Manhattan?

Originally I thought I would spend a year in Provence and then move to L.A. as so many of my fellow New Yorkers have done, but the problem with that is, I fell in love with Provence and have no intention on leaving anytime soon. I feel as if my soul is here. I will spend the better part of this year working on a book proposal of my life and photographic work in Provence and exploring more of France’s countryside which I’ll share through my lens, as always, on instagram and the blog. I will be designing my first Provence linen dress this summer for a local brand as a special capsule handmade by artisans in the region which I am excited to experience the process of! I also have an amazing private commission to create photographic mural like wallpaper for a client I’m eager to work on.

Fun fact we may not know about you?

I make pizza at home every Monday for dinner!

We started this series to meet and share more about the people who inspire us, so we’d love to discover the same from you. Who or what inspires you?

I always find myself inspired watching Katie Rogers, Paper Fashion, on her instagram stories! Otherwise my inspiration comes from visiting art museums, artist studios, or looking through my collection of art books. Right now I’m really inspired by European paintings from the late 1800s, or still lives by Rachel Ruysch. One of the most inspiring experiences I have ever had in my life was staying at Chateau de Gudanes run by this magical woman, Karina Waters whose approach to life is what dreams are made of! She is so inspiring and what she has created, or saved, at the Chateau is pure magic.

Thank you so much Jamie for bringing your beautiful perspective to Gal Meets Glam and sharing with our readers. You can follow along with Jamie’s work on her website here or her Instagram here.

]]>http://galmeetsglam.com/2018/03/inspired-by-jamie-beck/feed/65135533Today we’re launching a new series, Inspired By, here on GMG. It’s one that I’ve been very excited to share with you. Nothing fuels my fire more than discovering someone who is not only talented, but also marches to the beat of their own drum. I’ve…
]]>These Are My Favorite Pairs Of Sneakershttp://galmeetsglam.com/2018/03/these-are-my-favorite-pairs-of-sneakers/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=these-are-my-favorite-pairs-of-sneakers
http://galmeetsglam.com/2018/03/these-are-my-favorite-pairs-of-sneakers/#commentsWed, 07 Mar 2018 13:26:36 +0000http://galmeetsglam.com/?p=135118

While I’ve never really embraced the whole athleisure trend, I do love my sneakers. I’ve been able to blend them into my style really easily over the past couple of years and have found a handful of them that pair well with my feminine style. In the past, I would ...

While I’ve never really embraced the whole athleisure trend, I do love my sneakers. I’ve been able to blend them into my style really easily over the past couple of years and have found a handful of them that pair well with my feminine style. In the past, I would only ever wear my sneakers for workouts, walks or the occasional travel day, but now, I reach for them weekly- whether I’m wearing with a dress, jeans or something more relaxed. I get asked a lot about comfortable shoes for travel and it’s really hard to beat a good sneaker when you’re on your feet all day. That’s probably why they’re my most worn for travel days now or anytime I know I’ll be walking a lot. Luckily there are so many cute styles out, in such pretty, soft colors, so you don’t have to sacrifice comfort for style. You can get both! Keep reading to see more of my favorite pairs of sneakers.

In this photo

In this photo

]]>http://galmeetsglam.com/2018/03/these-are-my-favorite-pairs-of-sneakers/feed/48135118While I’ve never really embraced the whole athleisure trend, I do love my sneakers. I’ve been able to blend them into my style really easily over the past couple of years and have found a handful of them that pair well with my feminine style. In the past, I…
]]>6 Tips For Getting Started Right Nowhttp://galmeetsglam.com/2018/03/6-tips-getting-started-right-now/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=6-tips-getting-started-right-now
http://galmeetsglam.com/2018/03/6-tips-getting-started-right-now/#commentsTue, 06 Mar 2018 08:00:52 +0000http://galmeetsglam.com/?p=134791

It’s Thomas here taking over for today. We’ve been traveling around like crazy and Julia has been going nonstop, speaking at 3 events last week, with a quick return to Charleston, before heading back to NYC to work on Gal Meets Glam Collection, which is where we are right now. Needless to ...

It’s Thomas here taking over for today. We’ve been traveling around like crazy and Julia has been going nonstop, speaking at 3 events last week, with a quick return to Charleston, before heading back to NYC to work on Gal Meets Glam Collection, which is where we are right now. Needless to say, Julia could use a day off from writing. Today’s post was actually inspired by meeting and speaking with lots of you. So many of you have bright futures ahead, but often come to us looking for some advice on how to get there. There’s this common theme we’ve found of people needing help figuring out how to start when they know where they want to be, but have no clue how to get there.

In life, it can be very challenging to start something new. Standing between you and your biggest achievement are obstacles that can impair the confidence needed to take that necessary leap of faith. We let the voices in our minds take charge. Unfortunately, these voices telling us why we can’t do something often drown out the ones that are more encouraging.

What a lot of people don’t realize is that starting something new is kind of like learning to ride a bicycle. It takes courage and a ‘just go for it’ mentality to get started. But once you’re up and riding, it’s only a matter of time before your headed down the road tackling each new obstacle and hill one at a time, and at your own pace, getting better and better with each ride. Where do I begin?

Adjust your mindset – The first step in getting started on something new is getting your mind working for you instead of against you. I’m all for foresight, strategizing and planning, but not to the detriment of starting. This is why Julia and I make such great partners – our minds work differently in a complementary way. Julia’s focus always fascinates me. When she dreams something up, she doesn’t start tomorrow or a month from now after planning out everything to a ‘T’. She starts immediately. I’m the opposite. I’m about the worst starter because I become more concerned about where I’ll be a year from now and whether I think that’s the right place to be or not. And while I consider myself smart (and humble, right?), I’d say I suffer from analysis paralysis. Luckily, there are moments where both Julia and my mindset ‘click’ and balance each other out enough to create new things, with a focus on those being the right things.

Make sure that you’re passionate first – If you think about it, we started GMG at a time where fashion blogging wasn’t a career. The only reason why people started their blogs was because they felt a strong desire to create online. Our business is in an industry full of question marks of what the future holds. With anything brand new, you cannot foresee everything on the road, so you have to learn to be open to dealing with whatever comes your way. Being passionate about your idea will keep you going when the going gets tough. If I hadn’t loved Julia and her passionate commitment as much as I do, I would have given up on photography which I honestly didn’t like for the first two years. Now photography and running Gal Meets Glam is something I cherish and something I’m constantly motivated to push boundaries on. So if you’re going into something you feel ‘iffy’ about, stop right there and ask yourself if you are really passionate about what you are pursuing. Because once it gets really hard, it will be easier to give up. Rather than doubling down to push through the tough times, you’ll have no real reason to keep going.

Create a list of decisions to make – Highlight the most important ones that will actually help you make progress and highlight in a different color the ones that are distractions from starting. For instance, we’ve talked to so many people that have wanted to get started with blogging, but an overwhelming amount of people get caught up on what to name their blog, or what Instagram handle to pick. Work on getting your ideas closer to becoming reality. You can always pick a name later, or even change a name.

Start as inexpensively as possible – Make use of your time and sweat equity to get started. Cash in any favors you have to get some help. Create with free platforms. If you’re planning on doing something where a large financial investment is unavoidable, do things to test your idea ahead of time, like creating samples, taking sales meetings, or finding a way to poll or interview potential customers.

Enlist the help of someone that can hold you accountable – Similar to having a workout buddy, having someone there that can check up on you is really helpful. It’s important to have someone that can both pump you up when your feeling discouraged or give you a kick in the ass when you are underachieving.

Set trigger points – Part of what causes so much worry in starting something new is having limited resources, including time and money. To limit your initial investment and risk of potential loss, set trigger points which you’ll monitor and reflect on to gauge your performance. Basically, you create what’s called an IF THEN ELSE statement. For instance, IF I sell 100 jewelry pieces in 6 months THEN I will invest more time or capital in growing my jewelry business or ELSE I will reevaluate my desire to pursue running a jewelry business and figure out what to do differently.

What’s something you’ve been wanting to get started on but just haven’t worked up the courage to do it? This week is your week, so take these tips and put them to the test. Feel free to share what your big goal is.

]]>http://galmeetsglam.com/2018/03/6-tips-getting-started-right-now/feed/71134791It’s Thomas here taking over for today. We’ve been traveling around like crazy and Julia has been going nonstop, speaking at 3 events last week, with a quick return to Charleston, before heading back to NYC to work on Gal Meets Glam Collection, which is…
]]>Navy Wide Leg Cropped Pantshttp://galmeetsglam.com/2018/03/navy-wide-leg-cropped-pants/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=navy-wide-leg-cropped-pants
http://galmeetsglam.com/2018/03/navy-wide-leg-cropped-pants/#commentsMon, 05 Mar 2018 08:00:53 +0000http://galmeetsglam.com/?p=134524

I love discovering a new brand, especially in the midst of a seasonal change when I’m looking for inspiration. I found Staud a while ago (you’ll probably recognize the brand from their bucket bag) while browsing through Net-A-Porter last year and really loved a ...

I love discovering a new brand, especially in the midst of a seasonal change when I’m looking for inspiration. I found Staud a while ago (you’ll probably recognize the brand from their bucket bag) while browsing through Net-A-Porter last year and really loved a few of their pieces, although I didn’t buy anything at the time. I’ve kept my eye out though and once I saw these high waisted navy pants with white buttons, I was sold. I’ve been loving a cropped, wide leg pant recently (like these floral ones) and this navy version is my newest love.

]]>http://galmeetsglam.com/2018/03/navy-wide-leg-cropped-pants/feed/65134524I love discovering a new brand, especially in the midst of a seasonal change when I’m looking for inspiration. I found Staud a while ago (you’ll probably recognize the brand from their bucket bag) while browsing through Net-A-Porter last year and really…
]]>